Sunday 08/20/2006 7:35:01am Name: Dr. Manuel L. Iravedra E-Mail: periodoncista@prtc.net Referred By: Just Surfed In City/Country: Comments: Your dental advice is ridiculously wrong. When one of my patients chooses to disregard my professional advice, it's only _me_ who benefits, because they always return with a worsened condition which is far more expensive to treat. Thanks for giving advice that will certainly help Dentists "line our pockets"..! : )

Saturday 02/04/2006 7:29:00am Name: Patricia Homepage: E-Mail: taylors234@aol.com Referred By: Just Surfed In City/Country: USA Comments: If you are told your children have cavities that need filling but you don't see them and you determine the work is unnecessary REPORT THE CIRCUMSTANCE! A dentist who unnecessarily drills or attempts to drill children's teeth are CHILD ABUSERS. Protect the elderly. A dentist told me women and children are at higher risk. The first step to successfully navigate the dental profession without becoming a victim is to be AWARE that fraud does exist. There is soft fraud, you are told you need to change a filling which is really sound, unnecessary cleanings, fraud getting bigger and you need unnecessary root canals, gum surgeries, extractions, nose surgeries, jaw surgeries, and so on. There can also be a "buddy" system where dentist sends you to his buddy to confirm a need. It is difficult to know if the dentist sent you to one particular person because that person is considered better or if they are partners in crime. It is always important to get another opinion. Many victims of fraud say something didn't "feel" right when they were told they needed treatments. Trust your instincts! Get additional opinions. Always ask for a written treatment plan. While some dentists might attmept fraud verbally there might be more hesitation to write down the need for unnecessary work. Ask for a copy of your file at each visit. Once there is a problem files often disappear or can be changed. Ask questions and expect answers. Point to the tooth that is suppose to be worked on. So many people report having a root canal in the wrong tooth or having the wrong tooth pulled. Incompetence is a concern too. Observe sanitation. Does the staff change gloves in front of you as they move from room to room, etc. If you are having dental work done and end up with jaw pain are you told you are a grinder? BEWARE something is probably going wrong with your bite as a result of the work and you need to make sure that problem is properly addressed. When getting crowns it is a good idea to ask that the permanent crowns be glued with temporary glue for a period of time until you determine your bite feels okay. If you go to a dental office feeling fine and you are injured, or your jaw begins to hurt as a result of dental work, it might be a good idea to go to the emergency room so the problem can be documented. Often injuries and jaw problems created by dental work are misrepresented in the dental file. Any honest dentist or dental office worker who complains about this site needs to ask themselves if they are reporting improper or unnecessary work done by another dentist. The dental profession is self regulating although many dentists admit they are uncomfortable reporting circumstances involving another dentist. Even in situations where there is obvious abuse dentists most often don't want to report or put in writing their findings. The unwritten policy of not telling on one another enccourages a PARTNER IN CRIME ASSOCIATION, whether or not that is the intention. If you become a victim at a dental office you are not alone. Report the circumstance in writing. PHLT

Saturday 02/04/2006 6:23:39am Name: Patricia Homepage: E-Mail: taylors234@aol.com Referred By: Just Surfed In City/Country: USA Comments: Hello, I try to visit every site warning people about dental fraud. Dental fraud is a serious problem. People can be injured when given unnecessary dental work so it is important to get additional opinions before having treatments. People are often innocent about dental fraud until they become victims. Once people become victims of dental fraud there is often unnecessary loss of tooth structure as well as financial loss. Recovery of dental health and financial loss can be difficult. It is best to avoid becoming a victim of dental fraud and that is why a public awareness campaign is necessary. If you are a victim of dental fraud or you notice suspious activity it is important to put the information in writing and report the circumstance to the attorney general, health department, and the licensing board. The information does not have to be a formal complaint. A written description of the circumstance is important so that a file exists about the incident. Each individual contributes significantly by writing. The accumulation of information will result in a more accurate evaluation regarding dental fraud. People working together to STOP the ABUSE! PHLT

Sunday 09/26/2004 6:00:46am Name: Kitty Isola, RDH Homepage: E-Mail: Smilechkr@sbcglobal.net Referred By: E-Mail City/Country: Sacramento Comments: As a professional, caring registered dental hygienist, I just wanted to let you know how irresponsible your web post is. Until you find out all the facts first, you should refrain from making a public statement about something you truly don't comprehend. I agree that there are a few unethical dentists out there, but they happen to be a minority. In regard to some of your statements: 1. I would like to know your source of research for the statement, "persons w/emotional problems do tend to study for...dentistry.." You're entitled to your opinion, but you should have premised that statement with "In my opinion..." 2. "If you don't have a major pain there is no reason to..do a filling" This is a major fallacy. By the time decay is painful - the tooth is either cracked or the root canal(s) is infected and needs to be cleaned out. Decay that hasn't permeated the pulp chamber (but still needs to be filled) usually isn't detected by the patient - but by xrays or visually. Filling a tooth is a lot cheaper and less painful than waiting until it cracks/gets infected or is lost altogether. (A cracked and/or infected tooth may not only need root canal treatment, but also a supporting crown afterward which can be over $1000 -compare that to a $150 filling).3. "Cleaning of the teeth can be done by yourself" - very irresponsible statement. I would like to see you remove subgingival calculus (tartar) with a toothbrush or floss. Tartar is hardened plaque that has etched into that enamel and needs to be safely removed by a dental professional with appropriate tools. Leaving tartar keeps the gums infected by creating a breeding ground for bacteria. I am truly sorry if you happened to have had a bad dental experience that has soured you against the dental profession, but that doesn't give you the right to spread around misinformation that can ultimately hurt someone who happens to read your dribble and take it to heart. I hope this will encourage you to make future posts more responsible.

Sign this Guestbook | Manage your Guestbook

Page 1 of 2

Go To Page: